How To Avoid Going to a Nursing Home

On the outside they say, a nursing home is the ideal place to spend the remaining days of an old person’s life. One will never be alone there. They are taken well care of. They even have sprawling space of well-done gardens complete with lush trees and bushes of paradise. The reflection pools and soft chirping of birds name it they will say it to convince sons, daughters and as well as senior citizens. The sad truth is, the good things greatly outweighs the reality of that resides in nursing homes. To old people, nursing home is a gulag. They are afraid of the structure and the bars that keep them enclosed. It hinders them from enjoying the rest of their days. This has cause the rise in keeping the elderly at home.

Here are simple things that you can do to make a house senior citizen friendly.

Know the law. Read and learn the Olmstead Decision as well as the rights it expresses to people with different capability to acquire help at their home. Remember that the Supreme Court has initiated the groundwork in 1999 for legislation in majority of the states that allows individuals, no matter of what capability, to be able to live harmoniously on their own.

Granny-proof or Grampa-proof your home. Install equipment that will make your home safe and maneuverable for old people. An elderly citizen should have handrails, banisters and ramps in their homes so they can easily move around with no assistance. Handrails are vital to them. It prevents occurrence of accidents and hazardous areas like bathtubs, stairs, or any places where a change of elevation takes place.

Who are you going to call? Keep the contact number to your local healthcare agency that gives in-home assistance. Healthcare agencies provide services like home health aides and nurses that cater depending on the elderly person’s special and delicate needs. Home health aide performs various tasks like bathing the elderly patient to cleaning dishes. The nurses check on the client’s health and reaction to medication if needed. Keep in mind that elderly are not like regular adults. Be considerate to their needs and provide them with extra care.

Doctors know best. Keep the doctor in the loop. Tell the doctor what the elderly person needs and wants. If properly informed, doctors will give the proper directions and consideration for the patient. They can help in making sure that the patient receives in-home services needed, in arranging rentals, or purchase of medical equipment like oxygen tanks and monitoring equipment.

Insurance help. Talk with the insurance company to know what they can cover and what they will not foot the bill. As for most cases, they will cover the bill for the patient’s medical equipment; they find this more practical than renting the hardware for a long time. They will cover up to 80 per cent for other services rendered at home. These are little help that goes for a long way. Know what you can get from the insurance.

Check local listings. Municipalities and towns have different programs that offer special offers for in-home services. They can be either really cheap or free. So take time to check your town and get the best benefits.

Blood runs thicker than anything. If the one has to choose between the nursing home, or a relative, the elderly should move in with the family.

The elderly has a choice. It takes effort to set-up a home that is fit for an elderly family member but consider it as a way of saying thanks to them for rearing you into this world.